SHARING OPTIONS:
The five-star flock had a higher scanning rate and higher lamb survival rate than their one-star counterparts, resulting in an additional 36 lambs being weaned.
Recent analysis conducted by Sheep Ireland and Teagasc has found that five-star sheep are outperforming their one-star counterparts.
The five-star animals are producing more lambs and these lambs are performing better, all while being more environmentally friendly.
The analysis was conducted using the Teagasc Lamb Production Model (TLPM), which is a computer model that simulates an Irish sheep farm to study the effect of varying inputs on flock performance and profitability. The outputs of the TLPM were then combined with a life-cycle analysis model to predict the greenhouse gas (GHG) production from each flock.
SHARING OPTIONS:
Hill ewes are not housed, except in unusual circumstances and are generally not fed silage/hay but are offered feed blocks and concentrates at times during the winter and in the lead up to lambing.
A major component of the McLaughlin’s farm plan was designing a breeding policy to allow the hill flock to produce sufficient replacement ewe lambs for both the hill and lowland flocks. \ Clive Wasson Previous Next
David and Linda McLaughlin farm just outside Greencastle in Co Donegal and have been participating in the Teagasc BETTER Farm sheep programme since 2009, running both lowland and hill sheep enterprises alongside a herd of suckler cows. This year marks the end of David and Linda’s time in the programme and is a good chance to look at some of the key elements of their farming system.